Eric Archer, one of my favorite DIY-ers, has created a completely standalone techno generator. Housed is a box the size “of a medium pizza”, the Big Box of Techno includes two synths, a drum machine (actually a TR-808 emulator) and a sequencer.

All the sound-generating devices in the box play in synchronized rhythm, with one clock input driving the whole thing. Basically, it works using phase-locked loop technology, which subdivides the incoming whole-note clock into smaller subdivisions. There are no microcontrollers at all in the device.

It all fits beautifully into this nice wooden box:

Eric says:

I’m calling this one the “Big Box o’ Techno” for now until a better name appears. How else can I sum it up… analog laptop? Wooden groovebox? Its two synths, a sequencer, and drum machine stuffed into a wooden box about the size of a medium pizza… It consists of a mix of discrete digital logic, op amps, and transistor circuitry – basically all 1970’s technology. It is definitely a work in progress. Its job is to make funky techno muzik!

Funky indeed. Check out some of the music that comes out of this box:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Sounds better than some of the ‘composed’ music I’ve heard.

The Big Box of Techno has no memory or storage of any kind, so each performance is a completely live performance. There’s something very beautiful about music that is so fleeting….

• Scientology term or German techno artist?
• Oscar Peterson – techno producer?
• Techno from the command line
• The History of Techno